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Continued high growth momentum for the Bioprocess Solutions Division; for Lab Products & Services and Industrial Weighing, moderate demand at the start of the year picks up

Group forecast for the full year confirmed

GOETTINGEN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sartorius (FWB:SRT), a leading international laboratory and pharmaceutical equipment provider, successfully closed the first half of 2013 with considerable gains in order intake, sales revenue and earnings. At the same time, figures contributed by the individual divisions varied substantially. Bioprocess Solutions, the largest division that primarily specializes in single-use products for pharmaceutical drug manufacture, performed especially well. Following a relatively weak start into the year, business for the divisions of Lab Products & Services and Industrial Weighing picked up in the second quarter. Based on the Group's first-half business performance, management confirmed and specified its targets for the full year.

Substantial Growth in Sales Revenue and Order Intake

Sartorius increased its order intake in the first half of 2013 over the year-earlier period by 5.5%, or 7.0% in constant currencies, to 458.1 million euros. Group sales revenue rose 4.5%, or 6.1% in constant currencies, to 441.3 million euros.

The Bioprocess Solutions Division primarily contributed to the Group's strong business performance. Order intake for the division rose sharply by 14.5%, or 15.9% in constant currencies, to 278.7 million euros. This increase was driven by strong demand for single-use products used in biopharmaceutical manufacture as well as by special growth impulses, particularly from large equipment orders in the first quarter. The division's sales revenue significantly rose 7.8%, or 9.2% in constant currencies, to 255.9 million euros, in spite of the comparably strong revenue base in the prior year.

As non-strategic product lines were phased out and demand temporarily eased in a few markets, order intake at 130.4 million euros for the Lab Products & Services Division was

6.6%, or -5.0% in constant currencies, below the year-earlier level. However, as the second quarter progressed, demand accelerated considerably. In the first six months, the division's sales revenue rose 1.9%, or 3.6% in constant currencies, to 135.4 million euros, with all of the division's product categories contributing to this growth.

For the smallest Group division, Industrial Weighing, order intake at 49.0 million euros and sales revenue at 49.9 million euros were each slightly below the year-earlier levels (-4.1%; currency-adj. -2.2% and -3.6%; currency-adj. -1.6%, resp.), while as the second quarter progressed, business picked up for this division, too.

From a regional perspective, Sartorius recorded the highest sales growth in Asia, at 8.7%, followed by Europe, which gained 8.1%. At -3.2%, sales revenue in North America was still slightly below the exceptionally strong revenue base in the previous year, as expected. However, order intake rose significantly in this region. (All regional figures given in constant currencies.)

Overproportionate Increase in Profit

In the first half of 2013, the Sartorius Group further expanded its profitability considerably. Its underlying EBITDA1) increased 11.8% to 84.8 million euros, and its respective margin rose from 18.0% to 19.2%. Driven by economies of scale and product mix effects, earnings contributed by the Bioprocess Solutions Division jumped 15.5% to 58.1 million euros. The division's underlying EBITDA margin was at 22.7%, up from 21.2% a year ago. The Lab Products & Services Division increased its underlying EBITDA 11.0% to 22.7 million euros; its margin climbed from 15.4% to 16.8%. At 4.0 million euros, earnings for the Industrial Weighing Division were below the previous year's level; its underlying EBITDA margin was 8.0% relative to 9.7% in the comparable period.

Including extraordinary items of -3.2 million euros (H1 2012: -7.1 million euros), depreciation and amortization, the Group's EBIT rose from 49.2 million euros to 59.1 million euros. The respective EBIT margin was at 13.4% relative to 11.7% a year ago. Relevant net profit2) for the Group increased 8.8% to 32.3 million euros. Earnings per ordinary share amounted to 1.88 euros, up from 1.73 a year earlier, and earnings per preference share were at 1.90, up from 1.75 in the previous year.

Full-year Targets Confirmed and Specified

Based on its strong first-half performance, management confirmed and specified its sales and earnings forecast for the current fiscal year. On the basis of constant currencies and an overall stable economic environment, Sartorius expects that sales revenue will reach the upper half of its growth corridor of 6% to 9% already forecasted. Assuming that exchange rates remain unchanged, management continues to aim at achieving an underlying EBITDA margin of around 19.5% (previous year: 19.0%).

In view of the three divisions, the company anticipates that Bioprocess Solutions will reach, or slightly exceed, the upper end of the range of 9% to 12% in sales growth. The division's underlying EBITDA margin is projected to rise to 22.5% to 23.0% (former guidance: around 22.5%; previous year: 21.8%).

For Lab Products & Services, Sartorius forecasts that sales revenue in constant currencies will increase at the lower limit of the growth corridor of 3% to 6% communicated earlier. The division's underlying EBITDA margin is expected to be at 17.0% to 17.5% for fiscal 2013 (former guidance: around 17.5%; previous year: 17.1%).

Currency-adjusted sales revenue for the Industrial Weighing Division is also projected to attain the lower end of the growth range from 0% to 3%. Its underlying EBITDA margin is forecasted to be around 10.0% in 2013 (former guidance: around 11.5%; previous year: 11.6%).

For the last two divisions that are more dependent on economic activity, there is major uncertainty in their respective forecasts in view of the high volatility in individual markets.

2) Relevant net profit for the Group is calculated by adjusting for extraordinary items, eliminating non-cash amortization and fair value adjustments of hedging instruments, including the corresponding tax effects for each of these items, as well as by taking non-controlling interest into account.

This press release contains statements about the future development of the Sartorius Group. The content of these statements cannot be guaranteed as they are based on assumptions and estimates that harbor certain risks and uncertainties.

This is a translation of the original German-language press release. Sartorius shall not assume any liability for the correctness of this translation. The original German press release is the legally binding version. Furthermore, Sartorius reserves the right not to be responsible for the topicality, correctness, completeness or quality of the information provided. Liability claims regarding damage caused by the use of any information provided, including any kind of information which is incomplete or incorrect, will therefore be rejected.

Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg, CEO and Executive Board Chairman of Sartorius, will discuss the 2013 first-half results with analysts and investors on Tuesday, July 23, 2013, at 3:30 p.m. Central European Time in a webcast teleconference. You may dial into the teleconference starting at 3:15 p.m. CET at the following numbers:

The dial-in code is 9117287; to view the webcast, log onto http://www.sartorius.com/en/company/investor-relations/sartorius-ag/

Upcoming Financial Dates

October 21, 2013 Publication of nine-month figures, January to September 2013

January 2014 Publication of the preliminary business results for 2013

A Profile of Sartorius

The Sartorius Group is a leading international laboratory and process technology provider covering the divisions of Bioprocess Solutions, Lab Products & Services and Industrial Weighing. In 2012, the technology group earned sales revenue of 845.7 million euros. Founded in 1870, the Goettingen-based company currently employs around 5,500 persons. The major areas of activity of its Bioprocess Solutions division cover filtration, fluid management, fermentation, cell cultivation and purification, and focus on production processes in the biopharmaceutical industry. The Lab Products & Services division primarily manufactures laboratory instruments and consumables. Industrial Weighing concentrates on weighing, monitoring and control applications in the manufacturing processes of the food, chemical and pharma sectors. Sartorius has its own production facilities in Europe, Asia and America as well as sales subsidiaries and local commercial agencies in more than 110 countries.